Last chance to register to vote, and hear Obama and Romney debate

Midnight tonight is the deadline for Californians to vote in the Nov. 6 election. (Los Angeles Times )

If voters think of election day as being an entire month that began Columbus Day and ends Nov. 6 -- and with optional vote-by-mail balloting, it is -- figure that today is high noon. It's the day of the final presidential debate and the deadline for voter registration. These two chores, or joys, depending on your point of view, can be handled at one time at a debate party (sort of) in East Los Angeles.

You can register while you watch the final presidential candidate face-off at the East Los Angeles Civic Center at 4801 E. 3rd Street, starting at 5 p.m. For other after-hours registration opportunities, you also have your choice of seven Starbucks, four Wendy’s, a department store, a big box store and a newspaper. Registration begins either now or at 5 p.m. and continues until closing time -- 11 p.m. or 12 a.m., depending on the store. Check the list.

Or, watch the debate from your couch and still register online at the secretary of state’s site at http://registertovote.ca.gov/. Or connect from the Los Angeles County registrar-recorder’s site, www.lavote.net. Be forewarned: Your registration has to be time-stamped by midnight, which means you have to have completed all your forms and have hit “submit” before the clock strikes 12.

If you’re past all that and you’re already voting, The Times has recommendations for president, U.S. Senate, three congressional seats, district attorney, all 11 statewide ballot measures and three Los Angeles County measures. We pay particular attention to the measures, which are numerous and complex. Campaign advertisers tend to make them more confusing. The Times tries to make them clear; the editorial board also takes positions -- and shares them. You can find them at latimes.com/endorsements.